Bangkok Water Gates Not Fully Opened: Governor

Lite Beer · October 22, 2011

Bangkok water gates not fully opened: Governor

The Nation on Sunday

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday denied that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had opened watergates fully to allow flood water to flow through the capital to the sea.

In response to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's move to use the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act 2007 and order for the BMA to open watergates so that flood water can be let through to the sea, Sukhumbhand said the government had not notified the BMA to open watergates 100 per cent but had let the agency exercise its own judgement.

He said the BMA has already fully opened watergates, especially when more than 100mm of rain had fallen.

Sukhumbhand expressed concern about the rising flood level in areas such as Klong Hok Wa in Sai Mai, Klong Maha Sawat in Thon Buri, Phaholyothin Road and some parts of eastern Bangkok.

The governor cancelled an appointment and went straight to Siriraj Hospital when he was told that some leaks were found at the hospital and water had been retained in some spots.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday called on Bangkok residents to brace for flooding with the level of flood water ranging from 50cm to over one metre depending on whether areas are low-lying.

Yingluck dismissed Scicence Minister Plodprasop Suraswadee's comment that Bangkok would be fully inundated, saying that would take place only if things got out of control and every embankment was broken. "We cannot stop the flood waters from flowing - it is a great flood - but we are trying to slow the currents down to reduce the extent of the damage."

She said only some areas which were waterways or areas where flood water would be discharged faced higher risks of flooding, such as areas below Chualongkorn watergate, which was heavily loaded with water.

"We have engineers checking the strength of the dam. The dam is still strong, but there is a chance that flood water will overflow the dam. So people living below the dam must be on alert," she said.

Asked what was the chance of thing getting out of control, Yingluck said as long as every party gave full cooperation, the government would have control at one level.

She said the difficulty the government had in trying to solve flood problems was geography. Efforts to drain water out to the sea via east and western Bangkok was an uphill battles, especially the eastern side, because the area was high and more powerful water pumps were needed. The effort to discharge water via western Bangkok was also not effective because the area was also high and the waters remaine at Klong Prem Prachakorn. "If we cannot manage this, the water will overflow and flood Bangkok," she warned.

And draining a huge volume of water, it was normal that some would overflow. "If too much water is being discharged, embankments collpase, the level of flood water will be high. It is best that everyone is prepared - but not to panic and hoard goods."

She apologised to people in heavily flooded areas of the capital for the government's failure to issue a flood warning in time, saying it is hard to predict because many factors were beyond control. "If we issue too early warning, we could cause panic," she said.

-- The Nation 2011-10-23

londonthai · October 22, 2011

"Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday denied that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had opened watergates fully to allow flood water to flow through the capital to the sea.

... He said the BMA has already fully opened watergates"

he is contradicting himself, he has forgot his political party lines/lies

whybother · October 22, 2011

Actually, the second part (that you haven't completely quoted) doesn't make sense. If there had been heavy rain, they wouldn't open the flood gates to let more water in. They would want to keep the canal levels down so that the rain water drained out.

Siam Simon · October 22, 2011

and we are seeing the same tragicomedy unfold as in late 2009 and Songkran 2010. How much more pain are these retards going to put this country through before they wise up to the fact that they've been sussed?

ETatBKK · October 23, 2011

government decision is right, people who work it out not following ? ? ? OMG . . . last couple of weeks, we suffer from flood of water, flood of confusion, and now flood of conflicts :-(

did the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act 2007 clearly define the authority, role and reponsibility - who do what where when how ? or they challenge each other's polticial viewpoint now at the sites of flood ?

OzMick · October 23, 2011

"He said the BMA has already fully opened watergates, especially when more than 100mm of rain had fallen."

Is it possible that the reporter has missed a "NOT" in this sentence, which would make it logical rather than nonsense, and you look even more of a fool.

BigBikeBKK · October 23, 2011

Just another <snip> up article by the Nation. This article does not jive with what Governor Sukhumbhand said in his interview on TPBS last night. Crappy reporting by the Nation just adds to the confusion and frustration...

Edited October 23, 2011 by metisdead
Disguised profanity deleted.

tweezer · October 23, 2011

OPEN THE GATES!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE'RE DROWNING UP HERE IN PATHUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

shunima · October 23, 2011

The intake of water coming from the north will be much more severe than what's going into BKK. Once it hits BKK all rescue efforts will focus on BKK and there will be squat left for you guys. Be my guest, shoot yourself in the foot but don't complain when the pain begins.

whybother · October 23, 2011

"Website staff, Froc clash" in the Bangkok Post.

animatic · October 23, 2011

Geography hasn't changed in Bangkok, only mans buildings on top of it. Floods from typhoons have been happening for millennia here. FROC trying to co-op the web site is not surprising, this is panic now, panic later, for those face losers in charge. People need accurate timely info about this. And could care less if some bureaucrat saves his face.

YoghurtLX · October 23, 2011

Open the gates and than ?

Flooding Bangkok is not an option since there will be much more people affected than right now.

Economy will stand still if Bangkok is really under water and that's more worse than someone can imagine.

We know that a lot people including the government is calling for a share of tragedy and that Bangkok should share the floods. Thats just insane and that's why they order to open the gate fully exists.

Great to see this doesn't take place and gates are only opened as far as Bangkok can take water without having heavy damage.

It's really enough that some outer parts of Bangkok are heavily under water, but looks like some are not fully happy if not all of Bangkok is at least a meter under water.

bbradsby · October 23, 2011

Actually, the geography has changed, as well as the dramatic rise in impervious cover. BKK is subsiding at substantial rates across the city, based on groundwater extraction. Then, some land-fill operations big enough to alter the natural sheet-flow of water for entire districts have altered the geography. THese would include the airports, expressways, university campuses and large govt complexes. No real, independent, expert EIR's are evidently commissioned or mitigations put in place for the affected neighbors for these game changers.

GazR · October 23, 2011

I for one am glad that it wasn't deleted completely - it's the most sensible post on this page IMO.

Scott · October 23, 2011

One quote without link has been removed. Please exercise care in citing local news sources. Some are not permitted on Thaivisa.

justaphase · October 23, 2011

What this all means is that there's more water than they think Bkk can deal with at once, hence not opening all the gates. Eventually though, they're going to have to release the full force soon.

The big mass should be arriving from the runoff up north around now. I was right in the worst of it in Ayuttaya for 15 days till i got out.

It will be bad, very bad. 5 days till high tide too.

Im safe in the hills of Kan now 40 days they said to come back.

STEELINOX · October 23, 2011

"This flashback 'flood moment' brought to you by, Prilosec" !

1942, Its Yesterday Once More, shubee do rang rang ~ !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV2Ah2wOsaM

Edited October 23, 2011 by STEELINOX

IMA_FARANG · October 23, 2011

----------------

The keyword they failed to add is previously.

The sentence should read, "He said the BMA has already fully opened watergates previously , especially when more than 100mm of rain had fallen."

sirchai · October 23, 2011

"We have engineers checking the strength of the dam. The dam is still strong, but there is a chance that flood water will overflow the dam. So people living below the dam must be on alert," she said.

Is it possible to translate that into English? Aren't people already for weeks 'on alert'?

qualtrough · October 23, 2011

Apologies to you if English is not your first language, but it really could not be much clearer. He is addressing his comments to people living below the dam so that they are aware of that particular threat. I am not sure how else you would want him to say that.

puntmeister · October 23, 2011

This flood's a real bugger.

Good thing global warming is kicking in, should reduce the flooding going forward.

wana · October 23, 2011

global warming ,melt the polar ice caps,reduce the worlds flooding .............hmmm......ok

DieterWiehe · October 23, 2011

well may be if the move BKK to the Pichit area.

http://flood.firetree.net/?ll=16.3412,97.3388&z=12&m=7

WarpSpeed · October 23, 2011

Yes and drowning a few million more is a well thought out option?

Edited October 23, 2011 by WarpSpeed

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